UPDATE: Three confirmed dead in northern Labrador floatplane crash

A CH-149 Cormorant from 9 Wing Gander was dispatched to northern Labrador Tuesday afternoon to help search for survivors from a floatplane crash on Monday. - SaltWire File Photo

Search underway for remaining four missing passengers

HALIFAX, N.S. —

The Joint Task Force Atlantic (JTFA) has confirmed that three people are dead and four more are missing following a floatplane crash Mistastin Lake in northern Labrador.

Yesterday morning, a Canadian Armed Forces CH-149 Cormorant helicopter arrived at the scene of the crash, about one kilometre from shore near the southeast end of the crater lake. JTFA says the site was easily identifiable because part of the aircraft, incliding its tail, were visible on the eater.

Once search and rescue technicians landed, they discovered the bodies of three of the plane's seven occupants.

Later Tuesday afternoon, a CH-146 Griffon was dispatched from CFB 5 Wing Goose Bay to assist in the search of the lake and nearby shoreline. The Canadian Forces aircraft stayed in the area until nightfall, at which point the search for the remaining four passengers was handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a missing persons case.

JTFA says it has notified the next of kin of all seven passengers, however their names and nationalities are not being released at this time.

More to come.

EARLIER STORY

The Joint Rescue Coordinator Centre (JRCC) Halifax has confirmed that a floatplane has crashed in a large lake in northern Labrador.

The plane, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver with seven people on board — one pilot, two guides and four passengers — was heading for remote fishing camp on Miststin Lake yesterday afternoon after leaving from another fishing lodge on Crossroads Lake east of Schefferville, Quebec early yesterday morning.

When the aircraft missed its scheduled 6 p.m. arrival at Mistastin Lake, the staff at the lodge tried unsuccessfully to contact the pilot by satellite phone. They then contacted the JRCC who immediately dispatched a C-130 Hercules from 14 Wing Greenwood to the area around the lake.

Around 5:30 a.m. Newfoundland time, the crew of the Hercules spotted the crash site and wreckage of the plane in Mistastin Lake.

JRCC has since dispatched a CH-149 Cormorant from 9 Wing Gander to proceed to the area to assist in looking for survivors. The JRCC has also been in contact with the owner of the charter company of the Beaver — reported to be Air Saguenay — and he has flown a second floatplane to Mistastin Lake to assist in the search.

A CH-149 Cormorant from 9-Wing Gander has been despatched to Mistastin Lake 65nm SW of Nain. NL to assist with the search for survivors of a crashed float plane carrying 7 passengers returning from a fishing lodge in Crossroads Lake, 60nm east of Schefferville, QC